One goal, then one game short.
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The 2020 campaign might have been overshadowed by Covid-19, but it will be remembered for just how close the Wolves came.
Locked on 24 points after a shortened 11-game season, they were denied back-to-back league titles by a single strike - a plus-11 goal differential to next Sunday's first-round opponents Rockdale compared to Wollongong's 10.
Then their grand final hopes were ruined by a bitter 3-1 loss to Sydney United, English striker Thomas James sent off and then suspended for three months in the fallout.
So barring another Covid outbreak, whatever the new normal is, coach Luke Wilkshire is ready and perhaps grateful for it.
This weekend, as the new season looms, Wilkshire is wasting little time.
The Wolves squad will be split in two, to face Newcastle's Lambton Jaffas and then Illawarra Premier League club Port Kembla. The directive will be simple.
"A lot of players will be getting a full 90 minutes," he said. "We're making sure we're ready for the season with a clear idea of what the team will be for round one."
Wilkshire is in his third year in charge, having taken the Wolves to a stunning 2018 league triumph essentially as a rookie coach.
They also claimed the knockout national finals series, which has handed them a guaranteed spot in the next Australian FA Cup round of 32 draw.
He's been clear in his focus and vision for the Wolves, both on the pitch in the NSW NPL and leading the charge for the club, to be part of a national second division and eventually the A-League.
Wilkshire has given the Wolves a taste of silverware and hunger for more.
So while James might be missing when it all kicks off, Wilkshire is used to being without him during the ill-fated stint at Perth Glory last year.
He's confident he has the weapons, having signed Blacktown City's Leroy Jennings and Corrimal Illawarra Premier League star Van Elia to join ex-Western Sydney Wanderers striker Lachlan Scott up front.
Jennings has just recovered from ankle injury in time to be make his Wolves debut next week.
"He'll get minutes," Wilkshire said. "He can play anywhere in those front four positions, he's got good speed, he's aggressive and he's a good finisher."
New Zealander Elia was the driving force in taking Corrimal to the 2019 IPL grand final triumph, while it could be a defining season for Scott's hopes of playing in the A-League again.
Wilkshire is relishing the return to a full campaign ahead.
"It's been great to get some normality," he said. "We've had a full pre-season, we're fit, we're ready."
